The Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday announced to set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to take over the probe into the Muzaffarnagar riots that left 49 people dead and rendered around 50,000 homeless.
Principal secretary (home) RM Srivastava said that the SIT would be headed by a superintendent of police (SP) rank officer along with two ASPs, three DSPs, and 20 inspectors and sub-inspectors.
He said the inspector general of police (Meerut zone) and deputy inspector general of police (Meerut range) would monitor the progress of the SIT.
Srivastava said the SIT have been directed to use scientific method in their investigation. Altogether 80 FIRs have been lodged at different police station in Muzaffarnagar and other adjoining districts in connection with the riots, he said.
State DGP Deo Raj Nagar, who visited the troubled western UP town admitted that there were lapses on the part of Uttar Pradesh police.
The DGP said that there was lack of policing in some riot-hit areas. ‘'The force should have shown toughness and had come out impartial in its actions while dealing with such incidents,’ he said.
‘The administration has already opened 14 police outposts in worst riot-affected villages out of 47 to seek confidence of victims,’ DGP said.
The district authorities have decided to set up at least 33 more police outposts in areas of the district affected by the communal violence. A sub-inspector, a head constable, six constables and a platoon of paramilitary force have been posted at each police outpost, he said.
Police outposts have been established in Sisoli (BKU headquarters), Bhora Kala, Bhorakhurd, Hadoli, Mudhbhar, Gharinoabad, Mohd Raisingh, Shikherpur, Bhaju, Choonsa, Mohdpur, Purbaliyan, Jiwana and Lachera in the district, the DGP said.
However, official sources here said that 49 people lost their lives, 12 people were reported missing and more than eight religious places were damaged in the communal violence in the district.
Clashes between Hindus and Muslims in Shamli and Muzaffarnagar, began on 27 August. The original cause of the rioting is disputed, by partisan claims largely concerning the affected communities. In this case, the cause of this rioting alternates between a traffic accident and eve-teasing. According to the first version, a minor traffic accident involving some youths and then spiralled out of control when it eventually took on religious overtones. In the second version, a girl from the Jat community was allegedly harassed in an eve-teasing incident by one Muslim youth in Kawal village. In retaliation, Hindu relatives of the girl in question, Sachin Singh and Gaurav Singh, killed the youth named Shahnawaz Qureshi.
Principal secretary (home) RM Srivastava said that the SIT would be headed by a superintendent of police (SP) rank officer along with two ASPs, three DSPs, and 20 inspectors and sub-inspectors.
He said the inspector general of police (Meerut zone) and deputy inspector general of police (Meerut range) would monitor the progress of the SIT.
Srivastava said the SIT have been directed to use scientific method in their investigation. Altogether 80 FIRs have been lodged at different police station in Muzaffarnagar and other adjoining districts in connection with the riots, he said.
State DGP Deo Raj Nagar, who visited the troubled western UP town admitted that there were lapses on the part of Uttar Pradesh police.
The DGP said that there was lack of policing in some riot-hit areas. ‘'The force should have shown toughness and had come out impartial in its actions while dealing with such incidents,’ he said.
‘The administration has already opened 14 police outposts in worst riot-affected villages out of 47 to seek confidence of victims,’ DGP said.
The district authorities have decided to set up at least 33 more police outposts in areas of the district affected by the communal violence. A sub-inspector, a head constable, six constables and a platoon of paramilitary force have been posted at each police outpost, he said.
Police outposts have been established in Sisoli (BKU headquarters), Bhora Kala, Bhorakhurd, Hadoli, Mudhbhar, Gharinoabad, Mohd Raisingh, Shikherpur, Bhaju, Choonsa, Mohdpur, Purbaliyan, Jiwana and Lachera in the district, the DGP said.
However, official sources here said that 49 people lost their lives, 12 people were reported missing and more than eight religious places were damaged in the communal violence in the district.
Clashes between Hindus and Muslims in Shamli and Muzaffarnagar, began on 27 August. The original cause of the rioting is disputed, by partisan claims largely concerning the affected communities. In this case, the cause of this rioting alternates between a traffic accident and eve-teasing. According to the first version, a minor traffic accident involving some youths and then spiralled out of control when it eventually took on religious overtones. In the second version, a girl from the Jat community was allegedly harassed in an eve-teasing incident by one Muslim youth in Kawal village. In retaliation, Hindu relatives of the girl in question, Sachin Singh and Gaurav Singh, killed the youth named Shahnawaz Qureshi.